Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-06-21

character horsed with four bays each, and
all open. The procession proceeded at a
smart walking pace into Constitution Hill,
and then adopted more deliberate gait.
Owing to the lateness the spring the beau
tiful green of the trees, the sweet odor of the
hawthornes and the splendid uniforms of
the military, coupled with the enthusiasm of
the crowd, made the occasion one of refresh
ing enchantment. The procession slowly
made its way until the Wellington arch Was
reached, and then the first introduction to
the London streets ensued Emerging from
the Wellington arch, the first to greet the
Queen were the conyalescent patients and
Others at st. Georges Hospital, which
was packed from basement to roof, seals
having been erected for many thousands
over the roof of the hospital. On reaching
Pccadilly, the Queen was seen to look up at
Apsley House, and as she passed the man.
sions of her intimate friends she glanced
somewhat hastily at their abodes, more
especially when passing the Duke OF Cam.
BRIDGES, Baron Rothschild's, Baroness Bur.
dett. Coutts' andJno. Bright's old apartments.
1t was not until Devonshire House was
reached that the Queen began to realize the
grand preparation that had been made to
greet her. Here the Marquis of Harrington
had had spacious gallery erected from
which many hundreds of gaily dressed
ladies waved their hankerchiefs and cheered
the Queen. Along the entire route of the
procession the streets were literally
packed with mass of people innumer-
able. Balconies were crowded, as were
stands which had been erected, and
every elevated point which could be
reached was filled with persons anxious
to get glimpse at the royal family
On the procession nearing the Abbey the
troops saluted, guns were fired, the bells Of
the churches rang out merry peals and
flags were run up the cheering being
continued until the Queen had passed
into the west door. After passing
through the vestibule Her Majesty was
conducted to the grand dais under the
lantern tower. She was surrounded by
thirty.two members of the royal family.
The scene in the Abbey when the Queen
entered was dazzling. Ten thousand peo-
pie were seated. They all rose, women
discarded their wraps and revealed the full
splendor of their beauty and attire. The
peers and their wives were seated in the
south transept The ambassadors and diplo.
matte corps were seated right and left of
the peers Members of the House of Com.
mons were placed in the north transept.
The seats for members of the reign.
ing families of Europe &c, were
within the communion rails The
religious services in the Abbey were
conducted according to the carefully pre-
pared programme, which has already been
published. The Archbishop of Canterbury
and the Dean Of Westminster alone con-
Quoted them. When the benedction
had been said the Queens sons knelt
before her and kissed her hand. They
arose and Her Majesty kissed each
upon his cheek. The princesses next
advanced to the Queen and kissed her
hand, and she kissed them all, favoring
some twice, making unusual demonstration
over the Princess of Wales and Princess
Beatrice. Other relatives of the Queen
then saluted her, aud she shook hands
with some and kissed others, kissing the
Crown Prince Frederick William, of Ger.
many, twice, very heartily each time
After the royal ssluiations had all been
made, the Queen descended the dais aad
moved out of the Abbey preceded by the
royal family the congregation standing and
cheering with fervor all the while Mendel-
ssohn's march from "Athaie" being render.
ed by the organ and band until Her Ma
jesty had departed. The congregation al
once dissolved selections of sacred music be
ing played until oil had left the Abbey.
s..u.a II